March 4, 2016 | Daily Monitoring Report
Police Arrest Elderly Man Linked To Al Shabaab
04 March – Source: Shabelle News – 115 Words
Somali police force members have arrested an elderly man accused of having a link with Al- Shabaab in the central strategic city of Beledweyne, the provincial capital of Hiiraan.
Confirming the incident, Mohamed Omar Abdulle who is a senior army officer in the city said they detained the traditional elder at Hiraale village, 30Km west of Beledweyne town.“After a tip-off, the security forces of Somali government have arrested Hussein Garyare, the elder who was convicted of working closely with Al-Shabaab from Hiraale area,” said Abdulle.So far, Al-Shabaab did not comment on the arrest of the elder accused of being ‘an operative’ for the group. Beledweyne lies 350Km north of Somali capital, Mogadishu
Key Headlines
- Police Arrest Elderly Man Linked To Al Shabaab (Shabelle News)
- Puntland Minister For Commerce Meets Ethiopian Counterpart In Addis Ababa (Goobjoog News)
- Somalia Exports Livestock To Egypt (VOA Somali)
- Terrorists In Garissa University Attack Wanted Troops Withdrawn From Somalia (The Standard Kenya)
- Cargill Beef Plant Rehires 10 Out Of 150 Somali Workers Who Quit Over An Alleged Prayer Dispute (The Denver Channel)
- Somalia: Fatuma’s Family Escapes Hunger (ICRC)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Puntland Minister For Commerce Meets Ethiopian Counterpart In Addis Ababa
04 March – Source: Goobjoog News – 120 Words
Puntland Minister for commerce Abdiweli Hersi Mohamud alias Indhaguran has met with Ethiopian counterpart in Addis Ababa, discussing how to strengthen bilateral ties.The minister who has been on official duty in Addis Ababa, Ethiopian capital city had held talks with Yaekobo, discussing improving the economic and business cooperation of the two governments.Indhaguran, Somalia’s Puntland Government minister for commerce and industries briefly emphasised the potential investment opportunities in Puntland as his government opens doors for both local and foreign investments. Similarly, minister Indhaguran outlined the key areas for investment, assuring investors his cooperation. As business ties between the two countries ascend, Puntland opts to inaugurate the first border custom between Puntland and Ethiopia as part of economic infrastructure developments efforts.
Somalia Exports Livestock To Egypt
03 March – Source: VOA Somali- 128 Words
Somalia has for the first time in many years exported livestock to Egypt following an agreement signed between the two countries last year.A ship carrying over 2000 camels arrived at Suez Canal on Thursday and a ceremony to welcome the Somali livestock was attended by Somalia’s minister of livestock and pasture Said Hussein Iid.Minister Iid said Egypt gave Somalia the green light to export all kinds of livestock to its country, an opportunity, he said, was not given to many other African countries.He said the decision to allow Somalia export its animals to Egypt came as a result of continued effort by the current Somali government.He expressed hope that this new market for the Somali livestock will improve the economy of the country.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Terrorists In Garissa University Attack Wanted Troops Withdrawn From Somalia
04 March – Source: The Standard, Kenya – 271 Words
Terrorists who attacked Garissa University said they wanted Kenyan troops to be withdrawn from Somalia, a court has heard. Robert Njeru Mathenge, a student at the university who has since moved to Moi University in Eldoret, said two gunmen stormed their Elgon Hostel at dawn and ordered them out before being commandeered to the ground floor where they were told to lie down. “I saw two men in military gear and striped shirts and one of them led us to Side A where the ladies’ hostels were situated.
He told us not to look up,” he said. The witness said as the gunmen escorted them to the ground floor, they told them they were Al Shabaab members and their mission was to send a message to the Kenyan government over its involvement in the war-torn country.
The witness was testifying Thursday in the case in which Mohamed Surow, Osman Dakane, Mohamed Abikar, Hassan Hassan, Sahal Hussein and Mberesero are linked to the April 2, 2015 terror attack in which 150 people were killed. “They wanted to speak with the Government through us,” said Njeru, adding: “The gunmen ordered Muslims to leave the hostel and the rest to remain and then started shooting at us aimlessly.” He said he remained on the floor and could not raise his head after the bodies of his colleagues fell on him but he later managed to see his roommate, who had been shot dead. Lawyer Steve Mogaka sought to know from the witness whether he could identify the two attackers, to which he said he could recognise one of them. Hearing continues on March 7.
Cargill Beef Plant Rehires 10 Out Of 150 Somali Workers Who Quit Over An Alleged Prayer Dispute
03 March – Source : The Denver Channel – 262 Words
A meat processing plant in Fort Morgan has rehired ten out of 150 Somali workers who were fired at the end of last year, after they reportedly left their posts following an alleged dispute over workplace prayer.News of the massive layoff generated such backlash, the Cargill beef plant changed its firing policy to allow the Somali migrants, most of them Muslim, a chance to re-apply for new jobs in 30 days instead of 180.Back in January, some of those affected told Denver7 shortening the timeframe for re-applying was simply not enough.”They say there is no change in their [prayer] policy, so if they don’t allow us to go and pray, we can’t go back and we don’t like their re-hiring effort,” said Mohamed Ahmed, who worked at the company for three years.But the company said it has made religious accommodations for its employees in the past, and can’t accommodate all their wishes.“In 2009, we established reflection areas for all employees to use, regardless of faith,” Martin said.
He also said that employees work on a production line. “It’s a disassembly line. A large number of employees are standing at stainless steel tables.”Allowing a large number of people to leave at a single time for a prayer break would disrupt production, Martin argued. In a statement, Martin said the company had hired an additional 100 workers to make up for those who were fired, but the company is still shorthanded.Martin added there is still a sizeable Somali workforce, between 450 and 500 workers, at the plant.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“Fatuma and her family were living a difficult life in a Somali refugee camp about a year ago. Her kids were frequently hungry. School was an unaffordable luxury. A year later, everything has changed,”
Somalia: Fatuma’s Family Escapes Hunger
03 March – Source: ICRC – 373 Words
Fatuma and her six children had fallen on hard times in 2015. They were forced to depend on food distributions from humanitarian organizations since neither she nor her husband could find work in their displacement camp in Beletweyne, a town in the Hiraan region of central Somalia.Then things began looking up. After receiving a small sum of money as a way to seed a small business, Fatuma now runs a camp kiosk that sells items like milk, sugar, tea leaves and spices. With an average daily turnover of 30 USD, she earns enough to meet her family’s basic needs.
In an interview in 2015, she sat in her makeshift hut watching over her playful children who seemed oblivious of the world around them.”I came here because I ran away from the war where I experienced hunger and hardships,” she said back then, her voice cracking with emotion. She said that if she could make money from a small business, it would be possible to move out of the camp.Fatuma was among a group of 875 expectant and breastfeeding women living in displacement camps who received 280 USD to start an income-generating activity. The ICRC recognized that the group of women needed support to meet their family’s daily needs.The idea behind the income support programme was to assist households that are susceptible to malnutrition, an alarming problem in Somalia that is widespread in displacement camps.
For Fatuma, the $280 gave her a much-needed lift. A year down the line, her desire to provide for her family has paid off.”A lot has changed since. Unlike before, we can now afford three meals a day. Two of my children go to school. I am now self-reliant and happy with the little profit I make at the end of the day,” said Fatuma, her wish to someday move out of the camp still in her sights.On this International Women’s Day, Fatuma’s journey towards self-sustenance offers an opportunity to reflect on the remarkable progress made by women like her despite the challenging environments they find themselves in.Income support remains an enabling factor only. Fatuma’s success is a testament to her resilience, her tireless commitment to her family and tenacious hard work.
TOP TWEETS
@OCHASom:In 2015, the Common Humanitarian Fund funded 64 projects in #Somalia & supported 34 #humanitarian partners
@HarunMaruf:Breaking: 11 civilians were wounded in six rounds of Al-Shabab mortar shells on Afgoye town overnight: official.#Mogadishu #Somalia
@ICRC:1 year ago, we met Fatuma & her family in #Somalia. What a difference a year makes: http://bit.ly/1Trnb4g #IWD2016
@abdirashidmd:Female ballers in #Puntland square off for 1st basketball match in Garowe-leading to exciting feat in final#Somalia
@issafrica:Without urgent & effective preventative action, #Libyacould be the next #Somalia. ISS Today by @JakkieCilliershttps://www.issafrica.org/iss-
IMAGE OF THE DAY
The European Union Ambassador to Somalia hands over car keys to the Somali Minister for Internal Security.
Photo: UNSOM.